Fuck this. There's no need to continue the charade. I have all the proof I need. The marks on her face are too symmetrical to be from an accident and too thick to be from a pet. They’re vicious and angry and will probably leave scars.
The world stops moving as dark and putrid rage seeps into me. Filling my mind with nothing but violent anger. I painfully squeeze my fists and the numbness feels like it’s seeping from my fingers all the way down into my toes. I can't feel anything, or hear anything else. All I see is red.
I don't say anything as I glare at her. I couldn't form words even if I wanted to. I am so in enraged, so mother fucking angry that all rational thought completely vanishes.
I fist Mel’s wet hair in a painful vise and yank her to the ground in one rage-filled motion. Her back cracks against the concrete and her shocked expression quickly turns into realization when she locks eyes with me. She knows I know. The horror is written all over her face, and like an animal, I pounce. My left hand wraps her long blonde hair around my wrist as my right hand curls into a fist. I throw my full body weight into a punch and her head rears back as she cries out. I almost feel bad as I watch the blood ooze from her lip, but I can’t stop, even if I wanted to.
A distant voice screams at me, but it’s like I have tunnel vision. I want to see more blood. I want to watch it spill all over this expensive pearlescent tile and drip down from the garden into her ostentatious infinity pool. The second she touched my sister, she asked for it. I don't care that I shouldn't be doing this. I don't care that it's stupid and dangerous. She wanted to hurt me and now I’m going to hurt her.
A bullet zips by my shoulder, narrowly missing me by a few inches and I look up and freeze.
“That one was a warning.” Charles says, pressing the barrel of a hot .45 to my forehead. “Next time, I won’t miss. Get the fuck up, now.”
I crawl off of Melanie on shaky knees. It’s just me, him, and Melanie and, as he helps her to her feet, I realize just how fucked I am.
“Are you okay?” He clips, checking on Mel, but keeping his eyes firmly locked on me.
She stares at him for a few moments. Her face is a mixture of shock and disbelief. “I’m fine.” She says, blinking back the tears welling in her eyes as she looks up at him. “Thank you, Charles.”
“What should I do with her?” He asks, glaring down at me.
Melanie’s eyes flick to me, and she gives me an empty stare. There’s no anger behind her eyes at all, only remorse.
“She’s left me no choice.” She says, looking down at the ground. “Kill her.”
Charles gives Melanie a firm nod, and he raises his gun to my forehead with deathly precision. I close my eyes. It’s a cowardly move, but I don’t want the barrel of a gun to be the last thing I see before I die.
This was always going to be the outcome. I knew that the second I curled my fist around her hair and threw her to the ground. I'm behind enemy lines, and even if she didn't want me to die today, the disrespect I showed her can’t just go unanswered. I attacked her in her own home. That action alone is unforgivable.
I hear the click of a gun cocking and I say a silent prayer as my body trembles uncontrollably.This is it. I’m so sorry, Al.
“I commend you on your commitment to the job, Charles.” Atlas’ voice booms and my eyes fly open. “But if you harm a single hair on her head, I'll have no choice but to blow yours off.”
* * *
Melanie hissesas the bag of ice touches her swollen lip. She’s seated on one of her lounge chairs as her bodyguard Charles leans over her and tends to her swollen lip.
“Sorry, Miss Diaz.” Charles says, tucking a long strand of honey blonde hair behind her ear. “I know it hurts, but we have to stop the swelling.”
She looks up at him, and for a moment her eyes soften. “Thanks, Charles.” She says, clearing her throat. “Could you give us some space? I have a few things I need to discuss with myfriends.”
Charles gives the four of us a warning glare before giving her a slight bow and quietly retreating into the house.
The way she emphasized the word ‘friends’ makes me feel like shit. I stand by the edge of the pool and wrap my hands around myself. Everyone else is surrounding her, but I can’t stomach the idea of coming face to face with her.
Once the guys arrived, we were at a standstill. Melanie called for more security and the guys jumped in to explain what happened before things got more out of hand. She cancelled the call for reinforcements, but things between us are still far from friendly.
If I had followed the plan like I was supposed to, I would’ve found out that the guys had cleared her of any wrongdoing within minutes of us leaving them behind. According to her cell records, she’s been home for the last two nights and hasn’t been in contact with anyone outside of her compound for the last few days. She didn’t take Alex and I feel like such an idiot for assuming she did.
“Let’s go over this again.” She says, cutting her eyes at me. “You thought I kidnapped your sister?”
“Yeah.” I confess as embarrassment flames my cheeks. “I did. But I realize now how stupid that was.”
“You don’t say.” She mumbles with an eye-roll.
Cyrus takes a seat on the lounge beside hers and studies her for a moment. “Where were you last night?” He asks. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
Melanie throws him a vicious glare as she readjusts the ice pack. “It’s like I already told you.” She huffs, closing her eyes as she leans back into her lounge. “I was home last night. You can ask Charles for the video footage to prove it. Your psycho girlfriend made a fucking mistake.”
